Time is running out for the Newtown Cultural Life Center.
The center's leader, Pastor Joe Flores, was unable to convince the city's Planning Commission on Tuesday to give him another extension to raise the money he needs to buy the building.
Instead, the commission voted 6-4 to recommend that the City Council allow a bingo hall. The center, which provides after-school programs, is a haven for youngsters from low- and middle-income families in the Lake Edward community.
It's important to the city, commission members said. But the majority said they couldn't give him another extension after already delaying a decision on the bingo hall in April.
"It reaches a point where it becomes a hardship for others," said Commissioner David Redmond. "We need to be fair to the applicant."
Flores still has until next month, when the City Council votes on the issue, to raise the money, Redmond said. Commissioner Jay Bernas said the vote for the bingo hall would hurt Flores' efforts.
"I wouldn't want to give money to a losing cause," Bernas said. "I think he would be more severely effected."
B'nai Israel Congregation, a Norfolk synagogue, wants to buy the building off Baker Road and put its bingo hall there. Temple leaders applied to the city for a conditional-use permit.
The site was a bingo hall before Flores' church, Perfecting Saints Worship Center, began leasing it in early 2005. But the church hit hard times last year when wealthier members left because they were concerned about changes in the congregation, Flores said.
Since then, the center has fallen behind on its rent and now owes $60,000 in back payments. Property owner Arnold Hecht started considering other tenants in the past few months but also continued to talk to Flores about selling his property to the church. The center's lease gives the church the option until June 30 to buy the site for $1.2 million.
Flores said he has applied for a bank loan and is waiting on approval. City leaders have also talked to him about opening a satellite office for substance abuse, domestic violence and food stamps programs at the center.
The city would pay rent to use the space, though no specific amount has been discussed, said Terry Jenkins, director of Human Services.
"We know that there are unmet needs across the city, but based on the data we have now, we know this is a neighborhood where we believe that if we had a presence, we could do some good things," Jenkins said.
Carl Wright, the vice president of the NAACP in Virginia Beach, said the center has provided invaluable services for a neighborhood that has struggled with crime for years. A bingo hall would hamper attempts by civic leaders to improve the neighborhood, Wright said.
Flores said he still hopes to save the center. Robert Low, a member of B'nai Israel, said if Flores raises the money to buy the building before the City Council meeting, the temple won't object.
"We'll just walk away," Low said.
The center's leader, Pastor Joe Flores, was unable to convince the city's Planning Commission on Tuesday to give him another extension to raise the money he needs to buy the building.
Instead, the commission voted 6-4 to recommend that the City Council allow a bingo hall. The center, which provides after-school programs, is a haven for youngsters from low- and middle-income families in the Lake Edward community.
It's important to the city, commission members said. But the majority said they couldn't give him another extension after already delaying a decision on the bingo hall in April.
"It reaches a point where it becomes a hardship for others," said Commissioner David Redmond. "We need to be fair to the applicant."
Flores still has until next month, when the City Council votes on the issue, to raise the money, Redmond said. Commissioner Jay Bernas said the vote for the bingo hall would hurt Flores' efforts.
"I wouldn't want to give money to a losing cause," Bernas said. "I think he would be more severely effected."
B'nai Israel Congregation, a Norfolk synagogue, wants to buy the building off Baker Road and put its bingo hall there. Temple leaders applied to the city for a conditional-use permit.
The site was a bingo hall before Flores' church, Perfecting Saints Worship Center, began leasing it in early 2005. But the church hit hard times last year when wealthier members left because they were concerned about changes in the congregation, Flores said.
Since then, the center has fallen behind on its rent and now owes $60,000 in back payments. Property owner Arnold Hecht started considering other tenants in the past few months but also continued to talk to Flores about selling his property to the church. The center's lease gives the church the option until June 30 to buy the site for $1.2 million.
Flores said he has applied for a bank loan and is waiting on approval. City leaders have also talked to him about opening a satellite office for substance abuse, domestic violence and food stamps programs at the center.
The city would pay rent to use the space, though no specific amount has been discussed, said Terry Jenkins, director of Human Services.
"We know that there are unmet needs across the city, but based on the data we have now, we know this is a neighborhood where we believe that if we had a presence, we could do some good things," Jenkins said.
Carl Wright, the vice president of the NAACP in Virginia Beach, said the center has provided invaluable services for a neighborhood that has struggled with crime for years. A bingo hall would hamper attempts by civic leaders to improve the neighborhood, Wright said.
Flores said he still hopes to save the center. Robert Low, a member of B'nai Israel, said if Flores raises the money to buy the building before the City Council meeting, the temple won't object.
"We'll just walk away," Low said.
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